Located in Keystone Heights, less than 100 miles from our home base, the FIRM offers a 1.6-mile course that’s safe, repeatable and accessible.
The track features a mix of medium- and slower-speed corners, and most of it is run in third and fourth gear–aside from the second-gear hairpin. It also features longer sweepers that test steady-state grip as well as traditional road course kinks that test braking, turn-in and corner exit.
We’ve tested a number of cars at the FIRM–including hot new rides, old favorites and our project cars–and we’re constantly adding to the list.
Keep reading for synopses of each car tested–fastest to slowest–and scroll down for an easy-to-digest chart at the bottom.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06–LS3 V8 engine swap
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:13.71
- Date tested: April 30, 2022
- Notes:
- GRM project car.
- Fitted with an older set of Hoosier A7 tires.
- 88 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature.
- Dry track conditions.
2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT w/ Z51 Performance Package
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:16.16
- Date tested: January 14, 2022
- Notes:
- New car as delivered.
- Fitted with Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires.
- 65 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature.
- Dry track conditions.
2004 Nissan 350Z–LS1 V8 engine swap
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:16.79
- Date tested: April 23, 2021
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Fitted with racing slicks
- Fitted with With Nine Lives Racing rear wing, rain setup sway bars and stock front bumper
- Dry track conditions
2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 2LT
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:19.16
- Notes:
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
- Fastest lap: 1:19.59
- Date tested: January 5, 2020
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- Fitted with street tires
- 59 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
2019 Mazda MX-5–Triple Threat Miata
- Fastest lap: 1:20.20
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Fitted with Falken RT660 tires
1996 Mazda Miata–LFX V6 engine swap
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard
- Fastest lap: 1:20.44
- Date tested: September 2, 2022
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- First shakedown with 245mm Nankang CR-1 tires
- No suspension tuning, aero or hardtop
- 90 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Damp track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:20.71
- Date tested: July 9, 2022
- Notes:
- Fitted with Toyo Proxes RR tires
- 92 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
- Fastest lap: 1:21.49
- Notes:
2021 Honda Civic Type R
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
- Fastest lap: 1:21.79
- Date tested: November 6, 2020
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- Dry track conditions
2023 Hyundai Elantra N (DCT)
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:22.08
- Date tested: October 7, 2022
- Notes:
2022 Volkswagen GTI Autobahn (DSG)
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:23.05
- Dates tested: April 29, 2022
- Notes:
Photography Credit: Tim Suddard
- Fastest lap: 1:23.15
- Date tested: March 18, 2022
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- baseline test
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
- Fastest lap: 1:23.16
- Date tested: December 31, 2021
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 72 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
V8 Roadsters V6-powered Mazda Miata
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:23.44
- Date tested: August 26, 2022
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 90 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
2022 Subaru WRX
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:24.44
- Date tested: October 23, 2022
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 75 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
V8 Roadsters V6-powered Mazda RX-8
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:25.53
- Date tested: April 15, 2022
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 78 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:25.99
- Date tested: April 15, 2022
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 78 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:26.98
- Date tested: May 8, 2020
- Notes:
- Classic Motorsports project car
- Fitted with Yokohama street tires
- 81 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
- Fastest lap: 1:27.06
- Date tested: December 27, 2019
- Notes:
- Longterm loaner/former GRM project car
- Fitted with Falken Azenis 200tw tires
- 77 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:27.51
- Date tested: May 15, 2020
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 86 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Sport–ESC Off Tune
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard
- Fastest lap: 1:27.60
- Date tested: November 18, 2022
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Bone stock with ESC fully turned off
- Fitted with street tires
- 59 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:28.47
- Date tested: April 26, 2020
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 82 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fasted lap: 1:28.58
- Date tested: May 8, 2020
- Notes:
- New car as delivered
- 81 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Sport–Baseline
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard
- Fastest lap: 1:28.80
- Date tested: November 18, 2022
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Bone stock with OEM ESC settings
- Fitted with street tires
- 59 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
- Fastest lap: 1:31.24
- Date tested: February 17, 2020
- Notes:
- Former GRM project car
- Fitted with 200tw tires, VW Quantum five-speed transmission and a 1992 Jetta 1.8L engine
- Not fitted with aero
- 68 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Damp track conditions
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
- Fastest lap: 1:34.30
- Date tested: April 26, 2020
- Notes:
- GRM project car
- Street tires
- 82 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature
- Dry track conditions
2021 Toyota Prius 2020 Edition
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
- Fastest lap: 1:39.45
- Date tested: October 16, 2020
- Notes:
FIRM Lap Times Summary Chart
*GRM and Classic Motorsports project cars are denoted with a gold outline
